Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Bench out of Pistol Deuce is a horizontal stretch passing concept built around three levels flowing away from each other on the strong side and a lone out route on the backside. The two inside receivers on the strong side (near the formation) run flag/corner-style routes that break outside and upfield, while the far outside receiver on that side runs a deep crossing route all the way across the field to the opposite sideline, and the isolated receiver on the weak side runs a quick out to the boundary. This is a zone beater that attacks flat and deep zone defenders horizontally, with the primary read starting on the deep crosser working across the field before checking down to the backside out route.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flow of the underneath linebackers at the snap, since heavy Cover 3 flow to the strong side opens a throwing lane for the deep crosser working to the weak side. Key the cornerback over the backside out route pre-snap, since press man or aggressive corner alignment signals a possible jump on that route if thrown late. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender dropping into a deep third or lurking in the middle of the field, since that defender can undercut the deep crosser if the quarterback holds the ball too long. Against Cover 2, look for the flat defender jumping the backside out route, which opens a window over the top for a strong safety-corner combo if the corner routes have time to develop. Be wary of disguised zone blitzes where the strong side flag routes get picked off by a delayed underneath defender, since the deep crosser and quick out are the safer answers when blitz pressure shows late.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two-high or single-high safety look, since the deep crosser needs room to work across the middle without a deep zone defender sitting underneath it.
If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with squatting corners, prioritize the deep crosser since it will cross into a soft spot vacated by the flowing zone defenders.
Use the backside out route as a quick answer against Cover 2 or when the defense brings pressure, since it is the fastest developing throw on the play.
Pair this play with HB Dive or Strong Power on early downs to keep the defense honest against the run before dialing up Bench on second or third down when defenders start sitting on shorter routes.
Sequence Bench with Corner Post or Short Post from the same set so the defense cannot key on the deep crosser alone, forcing conflict for underneath zone defenders.
